Department for Communities and Local Government

Insulation: Fire Prevention

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will (a) publish communications he has had with the British Board of Agrément on the failure of cladding systems in high winds and (b) set out his Department's plans to deal with problems described in such communications.

Alok Sharma: We are reviewing the material made available to us by the British Board of Agrément and I will arrange for a summary note of this information to be placed in the Library of the House when completed. The Secretary of State informed the House on Tuesday 5 September that the Department had written to building control bodies drawing their attention to the importance of ensuring that wind loading calculations are undertaken properly. This letter is available on the Department’s web site at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wind-loading-calculation-for-cladding.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment of need for Traveller sites has been made for each minimum geography area for each of the next five years.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's August 2015 Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS), how many local planning authorities have set pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers using the revised definition as set out in Annex 1 of the PPTS 2015.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many Travellers who conform to the revised definition of Gypsy Travellers as set out in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015 have been successful in obtaining a pitch in the last year for which data is available.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many and which local authorities have met the requirement (a) in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015 to identify and maintain a supply of specific deliverable sites, sufficient to provide five years' worth of sites, against their locally set target and (b) to include the same outcome for each of the next five, six and 10 years as set down in the Planning Policy for Travellers Sites document.

Alok Sharma: The Government has made no such estimates. It is the responsibility of local authorities to assess all local housing needs through their local plan.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to ensure that high-rise residential accommodation with external cladding that is not composed of aluminium composite material is tested to ensure that it is fire safe.

Alok Sharma: As set out in consolidated advice to building owners published on 5 September, the government is working with the Expert Panel to consider whether there are any heightened risks linked to other cladding systems (not Aluminium Composite Material) and broader fire and building safety issues in high-rise buildings.As a first step to understand what other cladding systems may be safe on high rise buildings, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has sought permission from its clients and is publishing a list of historical data on cladding systems which have passed the BS8414 test set out in current Building Regulations guidance. The catalogue can be accessed here https://www.bre.co.uk/regulatory-testing.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, by what date he plans that all the households eligible for rehousing as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire will receive an offer of permanent housing.

Alok Sharma: The Council are working to provide a new home in social housing for all former residents of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk within one year, while giving households the time and space to make this transition at their own pace.The Council published the rehousing commitment to residents on 21 July and is available at: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/The%20housing%20commitment%20to%20residents%20%E2%80%93%20FAQ.pdf

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2017 to Question 5175, on Grenfell Tower: fires, (a) how many staff from his Department are working to provide that support, (b) what work his Department has done to support the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in engaging with the local community and (c) what work his Department has done to support the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to ensure it fully meets the needs of residents and supports community organisations.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not keep record of which of our staff are working on particular tasks as they work on a wide range of activities. The Department has, since the immediate aftermath of the fire, provided a wide range of advice and direct support to local efforts to deal with the consequences of the fire, including on community engagement. It is currently supporting the Council in developing a comprehensive communications and engagement plan to ensure residents are kept up to date. The Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce (appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 26 July 2017) is providing assurance on whether the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council can deliver a long-term recovery plan. Its remit includes supporting, guiding and challenging the Council in relation to community engagement. Contributions have also been made to various funds supporting charities and other groups helping those affected by the fire.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) council and (b) social houses were built in each local authority area in each year for which figures are available.

Alok Sharma: The numbers of local authority dwellings built in each local authority area are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly) at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-buildingMore comprehensive statistics on additional affordable housing provided local authority and private registered providers (housing associations) are published in the Department’s live tables at: http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supplyTable 1008C provides all additional affordable dwellings provided (new build and acquisitions) by local authority area. Separate figures for ‘social rent’, ‘affordable rent’ and ‘intermediate (shared ownership and intermediate rent)’ housing are shown in Tables 1006c, 1006a and 1007c respectively.

Social Rented Housing: Fire Alarms

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to publish new advice and regulations on the installation of mandatory fire alarms in communal areas of public housing.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 13 September 2017



The Government will consider these issues in light of the Independent Review on Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the findings of the Public Inquiry and on going work to review building safety.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many starter homes have been built in each of the last five years.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 14 September 2017



Our Housing White Paper: Fixing Our Broken Housing Market set out plans for starter homes to help young people into home ownership. We have made clear starter homes should be targeted at first-time buyers who would otherwise be priced out of the market; have consulted on a minimum 10 per cent affordable home ownership national planning policy expectation for major sites; and have made good progress securing suitable sites for starter homes through the starter homes land fund.